Portable support



May 10, 1949. B, AMES 2,469,359

PORTABLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 24, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 izjywj' 4 ,2;

May 10, 1949. E I 2,469,359

PORTABLE SUPPORT FiI!.ed Jan. 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q m. n. HIIIliillllll May 10, 1949. B. AMES 2,469,359

PORTABLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 24, 1945 a Shets-Sheet 5 Patented May 10,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SUPPORT Butler Ames, Boston,Mass.

Application January 24, 1945, Serial No. 574,364

1 Claim. (01. 280211) This invention pertains to portable supports forindividuals unable to walk or to bear their full weight on their legs,for example persons who have lost the useof one or both legs; agedpeople; or convalescents, and relates more especially to an improvedsupport of the kind'disclosed in the U. S. Patent to Ames No. 2,282,689,dated May 19, 1942, and in copending applications for Letters Patent,Serial 'No. 520,745, filed February 2, 1944, now Patent No. 2,437,778,granted Mar. 16, 1948, and Serial No. 541,908, filed June 24, 1944.

A support of the kind to which the present invention relates comprisestwo substantially rigid supporting units normally disposed in spacedsubstantially parallel relation and between which the user stands orsits, and a back to which both units are hinged so that the entiredevice may readily be folded into compact formfor transportation. Theframes of the supporting units and back are in general similar to thecorresponding parts of the patented "device, preferably being made ofstiff and light'but rigid tubing. The top or hand-supporting bar or railof each supporting unit is preferably integrally continuous with thefront and rear legs of the respective units, while the lower stretcher"bar of each supporting unit is welded to the legs, the contituent barsof the back likewise being welded together. The hinge connectionsbetween the supporting units and the back are likewise ingeneralsimilarin structure and function to the corresponding portions of the patenteddevice, being so designed as to permit the supporting units to be "swungthrough arcs of approximately 180 and 'placed in parallel relation tothe back 'so as to form a very compact structure easilycarriedandrequiring but little space for storage.

While in the patented device the support is provided with skids at itsrear end'an'd with wheels at the front, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of wheels at both front and rear, the wheelsat the rear being swiveled to facilitate steering the device. Moreover,as in the device of the above-named copending applications, brake meansis provided whereby the user may more readily and certainly control themovement of the support, each of the four wheels preferably beingprovided with a brake, and the brakes for the wheels of each unit,respectively, being independently controlled by a conveniently locatedhand-actuated element.

Moreover, as in the devices of "the aforesaid applications, the presentinvention contemplates the provision ofcrutch-supporting'staffs'conveniently adjustable and carried by thesupporting units so that the user may rest his weight upon the crutchesand easily and rapidly propel the support, for example, by contact ofone foot with the ground.

Furthermore, as in the last named application, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of means whereby the support may be propelledby a person totally unable to walk, for instance aperson who has lostthe use of both legs.

"Objects of the present invention are to provide improved means formanually propelling the support; to provide improved foot-supportingmeans for the feet of the user when seated in the support; to-provide animproved seat structure; and to provide improved means for mountingcrutch staffs in the support.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in the following more-detailed description and by referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the improved support showing one of thecrutch staffs in place but broken off;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the support, to larger scale than Fig. 1but with certain parts broken away, omitted, or in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts in vertical section,to somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1, illustrating the seat structure;

Fig.4 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,and to larger scale, showing details of the seat structure;

Fig. 51s a fragmentary vertical section, to larger scale,substantia11yon the line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing the inner side of the footrest supporting bracket;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing the upper end of the foot'restsupporting arm;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in horizontal section, showinga preferred form of foot rest;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the foot rest of Fig. 9, viewed from theleft-hand side of the latter figure;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a clutch element forming a part of the footrest structure;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation partly in vertical section, showingthe lower end of the supporting sleeve 'for the crutch-staff; and

'Fig. "13 is a fragmentary elevation, showing the upperpart of one ofthe crutch-staff supporting sleeves.

As in the patent above referred to and in said copending applications,the portable support of the present invention is of foldable type sothat it may be compactly arranged for ease in transporting and storingit, but when in use is rigid and affords adequate support for theoccupant- As herein illustrated, the support comprises two substantiallylike supporting units which, when the device is in use, are disposed insubstantially parallel vertical planes and which are united by a rigidback member. Each of these supporting units comprises front and rearlegs I and 2 (Fig. 1), preferably made of stiff, rigid but thin metaltubing; a top or hand-supporting bar 3, preferably approximatelyhorizontal and which is united by smooth bends 4 and 5 with the upperends of the legs 5 and 2; each side unit also comprising a rigidstretcher bar 3 spaced below the hand-supporting rail 3 and preferablyparallel to the latter and which is rigidly united, for example, bywelding at its opposite ends, to the legs I and 2. The back (Fig. 2)also comprises vertically spaced upper and lower, substantiallyhorizontal bars or rails 6 and l which are rigidly united, as by weldingat their opposite ends, to hinge sleeves 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) formingbearings within which the rear legs 2 of the supporting units may turn.The sleeves, with the portions of the legs which they embrace,constitute hinge connections between the back and supporting units.Preferably these hinge connections are of the kind more fully disclosedin the aforesaid patent to Ames, No. 2,282,689, being so devised thatwhen the knurled hand nut ill (Fig. 2) is loosened, the sleeves may beturned relatively to the legs 2 to permit the two supporting units to beswung so as to lie in substantially parallel planes. When, on the otherhand, after having disposed the supporting units in operative relation,the nuts H) are tightened, the hinge connections are locked so as tohold the two supporting units in substantially parallel operativerelation and at right angles to the plane of the back.

In the present arrangement a bow-shaped back rest B is fixed to the rail6, the transverse member of the back rest preferably being approximatelyin the same horizontal plane as the handsupporting bars 3 of thesupporting units.

Each rear leg 2 is provided with a supporting wheel 5 i (Fig. 1)preferably having a resilient tire, the wheel bearings being supportedin rigid fork arms i2 projecting from a hub 03 which has a swivelconnection with the lower end of the respective leg 2. Each front leg iis also provided with a supporting wheel i4, arranged to turn in thevertical front-to-rear plane of the axis of the leg, the bearings ofeach front wheel being mounted in the lower ends of fork arms l5 and iii(Figs. 1 and 2) which are fixed, for example, by welding to the lowerend of the corresponding leg.

The seat 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) consists of a length or panel of flexiblematerial, for instance heavy textile fabric. In accordance with thepresent invention, a substantially rigid seat frame is provided,comprising parallel side bars 25 united to a rear bar 27 (Fig. 4) and afront bar 28 (Fig. 3) the several bars of this seat frame preferablybeing of stifi and thin metal tubing united, for example, by welding.One end of the flexible panel 25 is secured, for example, by means of acleat 29 (Fig. 3) to the rail 6 of the back of the support, the flexiblepanel then extending downwardly beneath the rear bar 27 of the seatframe, thence forwardly about the front bar 28, thence rearwardly, thendown and about the rear bar 2'l, its

4 end being secured by a cleat Ml to the bar 21. By this arrangement thesupporting portion of the seat comprises two thicknesses of flexiblematerial, and the rigid frame keeps these two thicknesses substantiallyfiat, thus providing a comfortable seat for the occupant.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the front bar 28 of the seat frame extendslaterally beyond the edges of the seat panel, and at its opposite endsis provided with spool-shaped members 3! designed respectively to restupon the lower rails 3 of the supporting units. This arrangement holdsthe front bar 23 of the seat in proper relation to the spaced,supporting units when in use, but likewise permits the front bar 28readily to be lifted from the rails 3 when it is desired to fold theseat. .Thus the front bar 23 may be swung upwardly,

substantially about the rear bar 27 as an axis, and then, by tipping thefront bar 28, its opposite spool ends 3! may be caused to rest upon theupper rails 3 of the respective supporting units, preferably upon thedownwardly curving portions 5 of the rails 3, with the middle portion ofthe bar 2% bearing against the bar B of the back rest, thus securelyholding the seat in folded position when not in use.

As described in the aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 541,908,a crutch-staff supporting sleeve or holder 32 (Figs; 1, 12 and 13) maybe associated with each of the supporting units. In accordance with thepresent invention, each of these sleeves or holders 32 is closed at itslower end by means of a plug 32 (Fig. 12) having a downwardly directedtoe 32 which is designed to be entered into an opening 32 formed in thelower rail 3 of the corresponding supporting unit. Preferably a shortpiece of tube or tubular rivet 36' extends diametrically of the rail 113coaxial with the opening 32 to provide a socket for the toe 32 The toe32 may readily be inserted in the socket or withdrawn as desired.

The upper portion of the sleeve or holder 32 is provided with a seriesof openings 3'3 (Fig. 2), the upper portion of the sleeve passingthrough aligned openings in the substantially parallel legs of aU-shaped bracket 34 (Figs. 2 and 13), the closed end of which embracesthe upper or hand supporting rail 3 of the corresponding supportingunit. The parallel legs of the bracket 32 are so spaced that the bracketmay slide freely on the rail 3, thus the upper portion of the sleeve orholder 32 may be swung toward or from the rail 3 as indicated in brokenlines in Fig. 13, the sleeve swinging freely about its lower end wherethe toe 32 seats in the socket The crutch-staff 35 telescopes within thesleeve 32 and is provided with a transverse opening designed to receivea pin P (Fig. 13) preferably secured to a spring clip removably engagingthe upper end of the sleeve 32 between the arms of the bracket 34, thepin P being designed to engage any selected one of the openings 33 inthe sleeve 32, thereby permitting vertical adjustment of thecrutch-stair 35. Since the crutch-stafi is mounted in the freelyswinging sleeve 32, the upper ends of the crutch-staffs to which the armrests (not shown) are secured lie wire or cable, the fork arms l and f6.being: spaced to accommodate the front supporting wheel ill and itsassociated disk member 31. This drive band 39 also engages a groove inthe rim or tire 49 of a manually actuable drive wheel 1! mounted to turnon a stud arranged for adjustment along a horizontal slot 42 (Fig. 1)formed in a bracket 53 fixed to the lower rail 3 of the correspndingsupporting unit. Each of these drive wheels M is preferably furnishedwith a knob M at its outer side designed to be grasped by the hand ofthe operator to facilitate rotation of the drive wheel. The disk portionor wheel 31 is at the outer side of the corresponding front supportingwheel and in the vertical plane of the corresponding drive Wheel 40.Thus the drive band 39 is exposed at the outside of the frame unit andmay readily be applied or removed without breaking its continuity.Motion of the drive wheel is transmitted to the driven wheel or disk 31by means of the endless band 39 and thus the corresponding front wheel4! is turned thereby to propel the apparatus. Since the rear wheels I lare swivelled to turn independently and freely and since the frontwheels id may be driven at the same or different speeds or reverselyfrom one another, it is thus readily possible for the operator to propeland steer the apparatus merely by proper manipulation of the two drivewheels 4|.

Preferably, the support is provided with a pair of independent footrests 45. Each of these foot rests is preferably of generally ellipticalshape in plan view (Fig. 9) and comprises a rim portion of hollow tubingand a transversely extending portion 46 also of hollow tubing andextending along the major axis of the ellipse, the part 45 preferablybeing welded at its opposite ends to the rim. Preferably annular membersor washers 4'! and 48 are welded to the outer surfaces of the rim atdiametrically opposite ends of the rim and in coaxial relation to themember 46, the annular members l! and 48 having outer surfaces lying inplanes substantially perpendicular to the axis Of the part d5.

A spindle is extends through the part 36 and through aligned openings inthe rim of the foot rest, one end of the part 49 being integral with orpermanently united to a plug 50 which is disposed within and permanentlyunited, as by welding, to the lower substantially horizontal leg 5| ofan angle member formed of thin stiff tubing having a substantiallyvertical leg 5% in which is fixedly secured the lower end of theelongate supporting stem 52.

The opposite end of the spindle 49 is preferably flattened or slabbedoff on opposite sides, as shown at are and passes through asubstantially rectangular slot 53 in a clutch disk 54. This clutchmember 54 (Fig. 11) has radial teeth 55 on its inner face designed toengage similar teeth on the outer radial face of the annulus 48, thelatter being fixed as by welding to the rim of the foot rest as abovedescribed. The outer end portion of the spindle 49 is screw threaded at55 and receives an internally screw-threaded nut 51 having a rim portion58, preferably knurled for manual manipulation of the nut. By screwingthis nut 51 inwardly along the spindle 49, the clutch member 54 may beengaged with the teeth on the part 58, thus locking the foot rest to thespindle 59. On the other hand, by loosening the nut 51, the clutch disk54 may be separated from the part 48, thus permitting the foot rest tobeturned relatively to the spindle 49 so as to adjust 6 the foot rest tolie at any desired anglev to: the horizontal.

The foot rest supporting stem 52 is provided near its upper end withasolidv plug, 52% (Fig. 5) provided with a transverse, aperture and withslots 63 extending into said aperture and extending; peripherally of theplugf'or distances of approximately The stem 52,.with its plug 52*,telescopes within a tubular member 59, having a series of spacedapertures 60 (Fig. 1) designed to receive a pinBl, (Fig. 5) preferablysecured at one end to a spring clip 62 designed partially to embrace themember 59!. By removing the spring, clip and pin BLparts 52 and 59 maybe adjusted relatively to each other and may then be held in desiredposition of adjustment by inserting the. pin 6! through any selectedopening 68 andv through the opening in the plug 52 However, when the pinis thus in place, the part 52 may beturned relatively to. the part 59 tothe angular extent permitted by the slots 53. The position of the footrest may thus be adjusted for the comfort of the occupant.

The upper end of the member 59 is rigidly secured, for example bywelding, to sleeve member 55 1, provided at one end with radial clutchteeth 65 (Fig. '7) in its outer face. These clutch teeth are designed toengage similar radial teeth 61 (Fig. 6), formed on the inner surface ofa bracket member 68, rigidly secured to the correspondinghand-supporting rail 3. A spindle 59 is arranged within the sleevemember 64 and is provided with a head 10 at one end of an externaldiameter somewhat greater than that of the body of the spindle 69. Thebracket 68 is provided with a slot 58* extending downwardly from itsupper edge and transversely of the annular series of teeth 61, the endportion of the spindle 69 just to the left of head 10 (Fig. 5) beingslabbed ofi or flattened at 63 so that this end portion may be fit downinto the slot 68 of the bracket 68. The opposite end of the spindle 69is provided with a portion H of reduced diameter, externally screwthreaded and engaged by a manually actuable nut 12, the inner end of thelatter bearing against an annular plate or Washer 13 closing the end ofthe sleeve 64. A screw 14 may be provided for holding the nut 12 inadjusted position. By loosening the nut 12, it is possible to move thesleeve 64 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5, so as to separate the clutchteeth 65 and 61, thus permitting the member 59 to be swung from front torear about the axis of the spindle 69. When swung to the desiredposition, the nut 12 may be tightened thus holding the foot rest in thedesired position of adjustment.

If it is not desired to use the foot rests, the nuts 12 may be loosened,and the foot rest stems 52 with the parts 59 swung upwardly andrearwardly until the foot rests engage the rear member of the support.If, at the same time the seat be folded back, the entire interior of thesupport is thus left free for an occupant who wishes to Walk, eitherwith the assistance of the crutches or merely by resting his hands onthe top rails 3.

While certain desirable features of improvement and invention haveherein been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that theinvention is not necessarily limited to these specific features, but isto be regarded as broadly inclusive of any modifications andrearrangement of parts and the substitution of equivalents such as mayfall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: 8

A foldable support, for invalid or similar use, of the kind whichcomprises a pair of supporting units, a rigid back of fixed width, hingemeans connecting the back to each supporting unit, each unit including ahand rail and a stretcher bar spaced below and substantially parallel tothe corresponding hand rail, each unit having front and rear supportingwheels, a swivel bracket for the rear wheel of each unit, said bracketsbeing arranged to turn about substantially vertical axes, characterizedin that the front wheel of each unit is mounted in a non-swivelingbracket comprising spaced fork arms providing supports for the oppositeends of a shaft on which the front wheel turns, a manually rotatabledrive wheel mounted on the stretcher bar of each unit at the outer sideof said unit, each drive wheel having a grooved rim, a driven wheel, ofsubstantially less diameter than the drive wheel, fixed to the outerside of and coaxial with and of a diameter less than that of the frontsupporting wheel of the corresponding unit, each driven wheel beingdisposed in the vertical plane of the corresponding drive wheel, thefork arms of each front bracket being spaced apart to accommodate thefront supporting wheel with its associated driven wheel, and an endlessdrive band engaging the grooves of the drive and driven wheels of eachunit, respectively, each manually rotatable drive wheel being'providedat its outer side with a knob designed to be grasped by the operator forturning the drive wheel, each drive wheel being bodily adjustablerelatively to the respective stretcher bar thereby properly to tensionthe drive band.

BUTLER AMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STA'IE'S PATENTS

